LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 28, 2010) A national study about financial aid at community colleges highlighted the successful
outreach and mentoring programs under the Department of Multiculturalism and Inclusion
at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

The study, The Financial Aid Challenge: Successful Practices that Address the Underutilization
of Financial Aid at Community Colleges, was released May 19 in a news conference held in Washington D.C. The study was conducted
by the College Board Advocacy amp; Policy Center in collaboration with the American
Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

The contribution of BCTC's Department of Multiculturalism and Inclusion to the study
was also recognized at the news conference.

It was an honor for Erin Howard, Hispanic/Latino outreach coordinator, and I to be
recognized at this event, but it is an even greater honor to represent and serve these
students that come to our campuses with a dream of being able to obtain and utilize
an education that will allow them to contribute to the community and the world, said
Charlene Walker, vice president of multiculturalism and inclusion. We yet have much
work to do and we need help from the entire state to push theses efforts forward.

The study cited BCTC's Latino Leadership and College Experience Camp as an example
of helping low-income and minority students with the college process. At the completion
of the camp, many of the participants responded in a survey that the camp inspired
them to go to college.

The report also highlighted BCTC's Promesa Mentor program, which trains community
volunteers, faculty, staff and college students to assist Latino/Hispanic and other
multicultural students with the college process. The program has trained more than
60 mentors since 2007.